How Lieven Segers transforms daily inspirations into art works

Finn Theunis: When considering photography, particularly documentary or 1970s newspaper style, it's all about snapshots. These are detailed elements from your surroundings or everyday life. It's like telling a story, either from the familiarity of your own environment or from the perspective of a newcomer entering a new space.

Lieven Segers: I believe there are two perspectives when creating a photo or picture. It could be a photograph or a symbol. In Dutch, when it's a symbol, "als het een teken is," representing something, the approach shifts. It's no longer about the sharpness or technical quality. Rather, it's about the message you want to convey with this symbol. That, I feel, is more akin to art.

Lieven Segers: For me, the artistic approach involves creating an image or symbol that stands for something. I appreciate when a piece represents a specific message from an artist. This artist and their work are products of a specific moment in time, such as the current year, 2023. The artist may also reflect on society, offering a unique perspective or critique, which is much more meaningful than merely taking pictures, simply framing and "stealing" images from the world. I do enjoy this "stealing," however.

Finn Theunis: You do it well.

Lieven Segers: Thank you (Laughs).

Finn Theunis: Like anyone else today, I did some research about you and your work. Many press releases and artist descriptions suggest that you enjoy picking bits from everyday life to see what can emerge from those ordinary elements.

Lieven Segers: Yes, that's true. Despite my background in photography, I see myself as more than just a photographer. I observe the world, take from it, and then this material enters my "atelier," which could be my laptop or my mind. After a time, I transform what I've taken and send it back out to the world. Although photography is involved, it's not the final product. The act of picking things up, noticing things, feels like the method a photographer uses. But if I had studied painting, I would probably say something different. What matters is living in and interacting with the world, that's how I create.

Finn Theunis: I think all artists in some way "steal," whether they are painters, sculptors or photographers. They absorb elements from their day-to-day life and take these ideas into their workspace - whether it's their mind, a canvas, or a digital platform - mix them up and create something new.

Lieven Segers: That's right, and it's not just about what you see. The famous artist Philip Guston, who transitioned from abstract expressionism to more figurative painting, had an interesting approach. He used to say that when he worked, he had all sorts of influences with him in his studio - great artists, family, lovers. As he spent more time in his studio, these influences gradually left, until he was alone. On a good day, he would even leave himself behind, resulting in a masterpiece.

This doesn't mean the art comes from nothing. There's a starting point with many references, but the journey to the final product is a solitary one, with lots of personal decisions. Occasionally, something beyond oneself happens.

As for me, my work process is project-based. When invited for exhibitions, I become more active and explore different ways of working, sometimes in a studio, sometimes collaboratively or just behind a laptop. Regardless of where it physically takes place, the studio situation is a solitary space where all the magic happens.

Some days, you might feel like celebrating a finished art work, only to realise the next day that the work isn't as great as you thought. But that's okay - self-critique is crucial. The real challenge, and beauty, lies in persevering, even when things aren't going as planned.

The drive to keep going, regardless of the outcomes, success or money, is the heart of being an artist. If I feel this drive in younger or older artists, a connection is established, regardless of whether I visually appreciate their work or not.

Finn Theunis: When you talk about an artist's journey, it seems like knowing when to stop is important, not necessarily after a failure - because failure can be a beautiful process - but perhaps when a piece is considered 'done' for the time being. How do you strike a balance between refining your work and letting it be?

Lieven Segers: So, you're asking whether I leave a piece unfinished and return to it later, or if I ever consider my work truly completed?

Finn Theunis: Exactly, both scenarios. Or perhaps your work is never really finished?

Lieven Segers: Well, there are artists who are constantly itching to tweak their own pieces. But that's not me. I like to confront my work, regardless of whether I like it at that moment. It represents what I was experiencing at that time, and I believe it's important to respect that. It's like a musician's breakup album - they're not heartbroken forever, but that album is a snapshot of their emotions at that point. As an artist, you can respect the different stages you've been through in life and reflect that in your work.

Finn Theunis: So, in a sense, these past experiences are always with you and can be accessed or tapped into. As viewers or listeners, we can connect with these moments or feelings that resonate with us. This connection, even if made years later, can evoke a memory or feeling.

Lieven Segers: Absolutely, and that's the beauty of it. Sometimes, the viewer might see something entirely different than what the artist intended. This can lead to interesting situations, like people choosing breakup songs for their wedding because they misinterpreted the lyrics.

Finn Theunis: Is there a right or wrong way to perceive art, though? Every time I attend an art show with a friend, we interpret the works differently, almost every single time.

Lieven Segers: Well, it's intriguing to hear different interpretations, isn't it? Maybe you should find someone else to attend the art shows with!

Finn Theunis: I've yet to find someone who sees things exactly as I do - but I'm not sure I want that.

Lieven Segers: And that variety in viewpoints is what makes art so fascinating.